URGENT: Scientists give this porpoise until Monday -- sign today!!!

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Friday August 29, 2014 · 11:06 AM PDT

2014/08/29 · 11:06

We're just months away from seeing one of the most beautiful species of porpoises go extinct.

Less than 100 vaquita porpoises are left off the coast of Mexico -- and they're being trapped and drowned by massive, floating fishing nets.

Experts say that "unless drastic action is taken immediately, the vaquita will be lost" -- maybe even by the end of this year. That's why scientists are recommending an emergency ban on gillnet fishing in vaquita habitat -- and they say it must be put in place by this Monday, September 1, or we could lose these porpoises forever.

There's no time to lose: Tell the governments of Mexico, the U.S., and China to work together to crack down on illegal fishing and save the last of the vaquita!

Without our voices, these porpoises will be gone. 50,000 comments from SierraRise supporters like you will show the necessary officials a huge outcry of support for the vaquita. Sign the petition today!

Nathan Empsall SierraRise

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Friday August 01, 2014 · 10:46 AM PDT

2014/08/01 · 10:46

I've seen emails lately from Netroots Nation, the Detroit Water Brigade, and others declaring victory in the Detroit water crisis - but that's premature. Yes, the unelected emergency manager did pause the shutoffs and gave control of the water department to the mayor, two great steps. BUT, Mayor Duggan has not yet said he'll actually end the shutoffs; he has only criticized the way in which they were implemented. Read on to learn more, and send your message to Mayor Duggan and the water department.

Roslyn is a 48-year-old single mother of two. She lost her job several years ago and has been struggling to make ends meet ever since. She wants to pay her bills, but often can't.

$300 is clearly a lot to ask of an unemployed mom -- but that didn't stop Detroit officials from shutting off Roslyn's water, and the water of thousands of other citizens, when they couldn't pay the bills.

That's right -- in a terrible environmental injustice, a major American city is denying running water to up to 40% of its residents.

Water is a human right. Without it, we die. It coursed through the earth long before humans came around -- but top Detroit officials don't see it that way.

The Sierra Club has spent decades fighting for clean water -- and we do so for ALL people, not just the wealthy. It's up to activists like you to stop this crisis!

Raise your voice today, before the mass water shutoffs start up again on August 5. Tell Detroit to stop the injustice and permanently end the mass shutoffs!

Much more after the jump.
The image is me at the water rally in Detroit during Netroots Nation.

Nathan Empsall SierraRise

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Monday July 28, 2014 · 9:25 AM PDT

2014/07/28 · 09:25

I am posting this SierraRise alert on behalf of Jim Hines, the Sierra Club's Los Padres Chapter Conservation Chair in Ventura, CA.

Beautiful -- but threatened.

I never get tired of watching humpback whales breach the ocean and leap through the air. I'm a lucky man -- the Santa Barbara Channel, near my home in California, is one of the best places in the world to see whales in their natural habitat.

But this could change if Exxon gets its way - they're asking for permission from the government to harass and even kill an unlimited number of whales, seals, & otters!

Exxon wants to "take" (i.e. harass) as many marine mammals as necessary to expand an offshore drilling platform -- already one of the world's deepest -- with hydraulic hammers. We're working hard at the Sierra Club's Los Padres Chapter to stop them, but we can't do it alone -- I'm asking for your help.

It's Big Oil vs. whales and sea otters -- and together, we need to submit 50,000 comments by THIS WEDNESDAY. Please raise your voice and tell the National Marine Fisheries Service to reject Exxon's request to kill marine mammals!

Nathan Empsall SierraRise

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Thursday July 03, 2014 · 9:46 AM PDT

2014/07/03 · 09:46

Pollution where you'd least expect it.

Seattle prides itself on being green, yet its only river is unsafe for fishing. Boeing and other polluters have been polluting the Duwamish with lead, mercury, and toxic PCBs for years -- but local residents are fighting back, and they need your help.

Paulina Lopez lives near the river with her young family, and worries about their health: "My dream is to leave my children a beautiful, clean river where it is safe for everyone to swim, to fish, to work, and to play." Standing with Paulina is Macklemore, the Seattle musician. He may have had a rapid rise to fame, but he still cares about his hometown and our shared environment.

The EPA is finalizing its cleanup plan. Because the plan will set a national precedent, the agency has heard a lot from profit-hungry polluters -- but not much from Seattle's new mayor, Ed Murray. If residents like Paulina are going to win, they'll need your help getting Murray on their side. If this petition gets 35,000 signatures from across the nation by Monday, the mayor will know the whole country is watching!

Stand with Paulina and Macklemore, and sign the petition to Ed Murray: Side with your citizens, not the polluters. Use your influence with the EPA to demand a cleaner Duwamish River!

More from the Duwamish Tribe and Macklemore after the jump.

Nathan Empsall SierraRise

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Wednesday June 25, 2014 · 1:16 PM PDT

2014/06/25 · 13:16

Neverending.

A recent report shows that impacts from the disastrous BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico are "far from over" -- and that bottlenose dolphins and sea turtles are especially suffering.

These dolphins and their baby calves are just trying to swim and live in their natural habitat. That's hard enough with climate change warming the water -- now they have to deal with BP's lung and liver diseases, too?

According to National Geographic, "More than 900 bottlenose dolphins have been found dead or stranded in the oil spill area since April 2010. If you stretched the corpses lengthwise, that's 1.5 miles of dead dolphins."

Even though greedy BP has tried to get out of paying the settlement they agreed to, the courts are thankfully holding their feet to the fire. The next step -- making sure that money goes to the wildlife and Gulf communities who need it most -- is up to us.

Stand up for dolphins, and sign the petition to the Department of Commerce: Make sure BP fines are used for Gulf restoration! This petition needs 60,000 signatures by June 30 -- will you add your name today?

Nathan Empsall SierraRise

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Friday June 20, 2014 · 11:47 AM PDT

2014/06/20 · 11:47

It reminds me of that old phrase: There's lies, damned lies, and statistics.

Greedy Big Coal has been caught red-handed lying in ads about the president's climate action plan. They've got a new radio campaign citing statistics that sound scary -- except that those are completely meaningless stats, based on a discarded proposal that isn't even in the EPA's plan!

It's a little like saying we shouldn't eat organic apples because processed candy bars are high in sugar... it makes no sense at all. That's why the Washington Post's fact checker gave the ads "Four Pinocchios."

This was no accident -- it's a bald-faced, intentional lie, one rooted in greed. The corporate polluters are putting their private profit ahead of our public health, doing whatever they can to stop the new climate action plan.

It's up to folks like you to help set the record straight and stop Big Coal from misinforming the public about the climate -- send your message to the National Mining Association before June 30!

Nathan Empsall SierraRise

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Wednesday June 18, 2014 · 9:15 AM PDT

2014/06/18 · 09:15

An international court has ordered Japan to halt its illegal Antarctic whaling expeditions, ruling that the hunts are just "a commercial venture masquerading as research."

Sounds like great news for these majestic ocean mammals, right?

Except last week, Japan's prime minister promised to keep up his fight against whales: "I want to aim for the resumption of commercial whaling."

His fisheries minister, Yoshimasa Hayashi, went even further, calling it "regrettable" that some companies refuse to sell endangered whale meat -- then ate a piece of whale steak for the cameras.

We know Prime Minister Shinzo Abe cares about Japan's international reputation. It's up to folks like you to speak for the whales and show Abe the whole world is watching -- can you help send him 75,000 signatures this week?

Raise your voice and tell Shinzo Abe: Respect the International Court of Justice, and end illegal Antarctic whaling today!

Nathan Empsall SierraRise

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Friday May 30, 2014 · 9:26 AM PDT

2014/05/30 · 09:26

It's chilling, but true: The great American forest is disappearing.

A runaway outbreak of pine beetles has laid waste to millions upon millions of acres of gorgeous western pine forests. The beetles feed, lay eggs, and spread fungus in the trees, ultimately killing them. ^{[1, 2]} The Pacific Northwest, and even states as far east as New Jersey, could be next.

This is devastating news for the forests' wildlife -- especially grizzly bear cubs. If nothing changes, we'll have to tell our children and grandchildren stories of a vast pine forest full of wildlife that they'll never get to hike, smell, or even see. The Rocky Mountains and Black Hills could sound more like imaginary fairy-tale forests than actual places -- will our kids even believe us?

There's still time for Congress to help save our forests. Together, we can make sure 50,000 letters are waiting for our lawmakers when the Senate comes back from recess on Monday!

Send your letter today -- tell Congress to save our forests and their wildlife from this urgent threat!

Nathan Empsall SierraRise

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Sunday May 25, 2014 · 10:30 AM PDT

2014/05/25 · 10:30

Climate change doesn't recognize international borders, so this matters:

David Cameron, the British prime minister, wants to cut subsidies for onshore wind energy -- and potentially ban new turbines.

This is a terrible move for our shared global climate, yet Cameron's allies insist the turbines are a "blot on the countryside." Priorities, amiright?

You and I know better. Weather disasters fueled by climate change -- like Superstorm Sandy or the devastating floods Britain itself experienced just this winter -- are a far bigger "blot" than any wind farm. Rolling back clean energy is an absurd move that would have devastating consequences far beyond the British Isles, so we can't just look the other way and let it happen.

As prime minister, David Cameron cares about Britain's international reputation -- your voice can make a difference.

Tell Britain's prime minister: The whole world is watching -- don't cook the planet by cutting wind subsidies or limiting new onshore wind energy!

Nathan Empsall SierraRise

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Thursday May 15, 2014 · 12:23 PM PDT

2014/05/15 · 12:23

Fossil fuel divestment campaigns are working. They're working so well that Big Coal is scared and striking back, frantically trying to censor climate activists and ban these campaigns.

Our friends at 350 Australia told us that the Minerals Council of Australia is trying to outlaw coal boycotts in their country, effectively criminalizing speaking out for the climate. Australia is the world's leading coal exporter. If Big Coal succeeds in silencing their opposition there, they will try elsewhere -- including here in the United States.

Australian colleagues have told us that their government is sensitive to American opinion. That means your voice matters on this -- together, we can help stop Big Coal from censoring its opponents!

Sign the petition to the Australian government: Our climate is depending on you -- don't ban divestment campaigns!

More after the jump, including Desmond Tutu and Neil deGrasse Tyson.

Nathan Empsall SierraRise

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Thursday May 01, 2014 · 9:37 AM PDT

2014/05/01 · 09:37

I am posting this diary on behalf of my colleague Ashley Allison, who wrote this piece but is off today.

Would you bathe your baby in formaldehyde or fill your dog's bowl with lead? I know I wouldn't!

A new study has exposed Walgreens for selling products like school supplies and pet chew toys laced with toxic chemicals that cause asthma, cancer, and more.

Thousands of people from across the country have called on our nation's largest retailers to stop selling toxic products. Last year Walmart and Target agreed to take action -- but Walgreens hasn't yet gotten serious about protecting our families.

That's why the SierraRise community is teaming up with a coalition of fellow environmental and health advocates to put the pressure on Walgreens. Let's send 50,000 more messages directly to Walgreens president and CEO Greg Wasson -- we'll be too loud to ignore!

Send your message today and tell Walgreens: Stop risking our health by selling dangerous products laced with toxic chemicals!

Nathan Empsall SierraRise

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Tuesday April 29, 2014 · 9:29 AM PDT

2014/04/29 · 09:29

One of my last memories of my grandfather is going boating on the Chesapeake Bay when I was 14. It was a special time, and a special place.

The Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure, but it's also in big trouble. The bay has been polluted for decades. It's now unsafe to swim most of the year -- and wildlife numbers have dropped dramatically.

The EPA and seven bay-area states have a great clean water plan to drastically reduce the pollution. But greedy Big Ag and several right-wing states far from the bay, including Texas and Alaska, are suing to let the polluters keep polluting.

The Chesapeake's wildlife and economy need us to clean up the bay, not undermine EPA authority. If 40,000 folks like you speak up today, it will help give the EPA the strength to resist Big Ag and the right wing at a critical time!

Tell the EPA: The Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint is great work. Ignore the right wing and keep working with local leaders to save the bay!

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URGENT: Scientists give this porpoise until Monday -- sign today!!!

The Detroit Water Crisis Isn't Over Yet

DEADLINE Wednesday to sign the petition: Don't let Exxon kill whales and otters!

Macklemore speaks out for the polluted Duwamish River

More than 900 dead dolphins - thanks, BP

Sign the petition: Pull Big Coal's dishonest ads off the air!

Told to stop hunting whales, he just ate whale steak for the cameras

Our grandkids may never get to hike these woods -- send your message to Congress today!

The British prime minister wants to ban new onshore wind energy

Big Coal is trying to jail climate activists just for speaking out -- sign the petition!

Walgreens: At the corner of arsenic and formaldehyde?

Sign the petition: Save the Chesapeake Bay from Big Ag's toxic pollution